Meet maryjo, the Rising Pop Star Behind Her Newest Single ‘Nothing to Lose’

Speaking from her home in Los Angeles, maryjo appeared relaxed on the call, dressed in an oversized hoodie, with natural makeup and flowing beach waves matching the laid-back vibes of her daily routine. “I usually wake up, go for a walk, then head to the beach. I love sitting there, writing, and then coming home with my dog,” she shared with a smile.

Reflecting on the start of her musical career, maryjo explained: "My family has always been into music and singing, but I was very private about it." It was only with TikTok’s anonymity that she found the confidence to share her voice with the world. "I thought, 'Oh, I can sing and nobody has to know,' so I did it, and TikTok started growing. Eventually, I told my mom, and that's what led me to pursue it as a career. But it was really TikTok that made it happen.” Her decision to post covers during the COVID-19 pandemic proved life-changing, as her renditions of popular songs attracted millions of views and eventually led her to audition for American Idol in 2021.

“ I can sing and nobody has to know”

Like many young artists, maryjo grew up listening to pop icons. When asked about her musical inspirations, she quickly cited Kelly Clarkson as a major influence. “I listened to her all the time,” she said. Despite this admiration, her journey to a music talent show wasn’t part of a grand plan. “Honestly, I was terrified to do it at first,” she admitted, referring to her American Idol audition. “I didn’t want to, but now that I think about it, it’s kind of cool how Kelly did the same thing. I hadn’t really made that connection before.”

Her experience on American Idol, however, turned out to be transformative. “Even though it wasn’t my best vocally, it taught me so much. I’m not nervous about singing in front of people anymore. Once you do a show like that and you're under so much pressure, everything else seems easier,” she explained.

Her newfound confidence has carried into her music, especially in live performances. “Now I just appreciate going out and doing concerts instead of being terrified.” With no hesitation, maryjo recalled her most memorable performance: “Boston, when I opened for Knox. It just clicked, and I knew how I wanted to perform for the rest of the tour after that. The people were amazing. I love Boston now—they’re just awesome.”

With each new release, maryjo continues to grow as an artist. Following successful tracks like Cleveland, Should It Be Us (featuring Michael Gerow), and Traffic, comes her newest single, Nothing to Lose.

The song tells the story of a toxic relationship and the realization that walking away was the best decision. It blends emotional depth with sharp, witty lyrics, capturing the liberation that comes from letting go of someone who wasn’t good for you. But as she revealed to PopFiltr, the relationship behind the song wasn’t quite as dramatic as it appears. “At the time, I was seeing someone just for fun, and I realized, ‘Wow, this isn’t a great person.’ I dramatized the song a bit—he’s not actually that bad, we’re friends now. We’ve talked about it, and he knows it was about him, but he’s not offended, we’re cool,” she laughed. “I made the story 10 times crazier for the song.”

“At the time, I was seeing someone just for fun, and I realized, ‘Wow, this isn’t a great person.”

This ability to transform real-life experiences for emotional impact is key to maryjo’s creative process. In Nothing to Lose, she focuses on specific details—like the scent of her ex’s “cologne floating in the air” or the sight of his “silver Honda Civic”—that ground the story in reality but also give it universal appeal: “There’s gotta be a million others with the same kind of hair / I swear.” When asked how she balances keeping her writing personal while making it relatable for fans, she explained: “I think about what I relate to and then break it down to something more universal. For example, if I notice something specific like curly brown hair, I think, ‘Okay, people pay attention to the hair.’ That way, the song connects with anyone listening.”

Her songwriting journey, however, wasn’t something she originally envisioned. “When I first signed with Atlantic, I thought singers sang, writers wrote, and producers produced. I didn’t know I was allowed to write,” she confessed. It wasn’t until a producer encouraged her to continue contributing lyrics during a session that she began to see herself as a songwriter. “It’s been a slow process, but now I feel confident in my writing,” she reflected.

While earlier tracks often focused on toxic relationships, maryjo feels that Nothing to Lose marks a shift in her songwriting. “When I first started writing, I was 21 and surrounded by my girlfriends in college. We all had those ‘stupid’ boyfriends,” she said, recounting the inspiration behind much of her earlier music. But now, she feels she’s in a different place emotionally. “I don’t feel the need to write about toxic relationships as much. It’s more about finding the core of why those things happen and what we can do better,” she added, hinting at a more positive direction for her future work.

Maryjo's upcoming music is likely to reflect this mindset, with a shift toward happiness and self-empowerment. “Now, my music will probably be a lot happier,” she said, laughing, adding that she’s excited to explore a broader sound. “Honestly, kind of like Sabrina Carpenter—a modern pop, but with a little Dolly Parton vibe. I’m interested in going in that direction.”

As for what’s on the horizon, maryjo has plenty of plans. “I’m working on a bunch of singles, and hopefully, it’ll wrap up as an EP,” she revealed. “I’m also planning more tours in the spring.”

While fans might hope for an EP by the end of the year, maryjo remains cautiously optimistic. “I’d love to manifest that, but it’ll probably be next year,” she said, smiling.

For now, Nothing to Lose is the anthem of the moment, capturing maryjo’s shift from bad relationships to embracing a more empowered and confident version of herself. And as she continues to grow both as a writer and performer, her fans can look forward to hearing more from the artist who started off with nothing to lose—and now has everything to gain.

Stay tuned for 20 Questions with maryjo for more exclusive content, and visit the artist's official website for the latest updates and information.

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maryjo, 'Nothing To Lose' (lyric video):